Experiencing diarrhea in your dog can be a distressing and messy situation for any pet owner. Understanding the common causes and knowing when to seek veterinary help is crucial for your dog’s well-being. This guide provides insights into why dogs may develop diarrhea and outlines effective ways to manage and resolve this common ailment.
Understanding Diarrhea in Dogs
Diarrhea is a frequent occurrence in dogs, stemming from a variety of factors. Mild cases often result from minor gastrointestinal upset, such as consuming table scraps or a sudden switch in diet. However, it’s important to recognize that diarrhea can also signal more serious underlying health conditions. Our aim is to help you identify potential causes, understand when professional veterinary care is necessary, and explore common treatment options.
What Causes Diarrhea in Dogs?
A wide range of factors can contribute to diarrhea in dogs. Some of the most common include:
- Consumption of garbage or spoiled food
- Adverse reactions to medications, particularly antibiotics
- Stress or anxiety
- Intestinal cancer
- Colitis
- Pancreatitis
- Sudden changes in treats or overall diet
- Ingestion of poisons or toxins
- Swallowing foreign objects like fabric, bones, or toys
- Viral infections such as distemper, coronavirus, or parvovirus
- Liver or kidney disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Parasitic infections like Giardia, coccidia, whipworms, roundworms, or hookworms
- Bacterial infections, including salmonella
When to Contact Your Veterinarian
A single episode of diarrhea, provided your dog is otherwise behaving normally, is usually not a cause for significant alarm. Monitoring your dog’s bowel movements can help determine if the issue resolves on its own. However, if your dog experiences two or more episodes of diarrhea, it may indicate a more serious health problem, and contacting your veterinarian is advisable.
Should your dog be straining to defecate but only passing small amounts of watery diarrhea, this could signify a painful blockage caused by ingesting a foreign object, such as a toy. This constitutes a veterinary emergency and requires immediate attention from a veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital.
Recurring bouts of diarrhea over a short period can be indicative of a severe health issue, especially in very old or young dogs, or those with compromised immune systems. Infections like parvovirus are highly serious, contagious, and potentially fatal. If your dog is experiencing repeated episodes of diarrhea, seek veterinary care immediately.
Dogs exhibiting other symptoms alongside diarrhea should also be evaluated by a vet promptly. Contact your veterinarian without delay if your dog displays any of the following symptoms:
- Loss of appetite
- Blood in the stool
- Signs of dehydration (sunken, dry-looking eyes; dry nose; or dry, sticky gums)
- Excessive drooling
- Lethargy or weakness
- Vomiting
If you have any concerns about your dog’s symptoms, it’s best to consult your veterinarian. They can advise whether an examination is necessary based on your pet’s condition.
How to Manage Diarrhea in Dogs
It is critical to never administer human medications to your dog without first consulting your veterinarian, as many can be toxic and lead to further health complications.
For one or two instances of soft or runny stools, you might consider a brief fasting period of 12 to 24 hours to allow your dog’s system to rest.
Following this, a bland diet for 24 to 48 hours can often help resolve the issue. A mixture of plain cooked white rice with a small amount of boiled chicken and a spoonful of canned plain pumpkin (not pie filling) can be very soothing for an upset stomach. Once your dog seems better, gradually reintroduce their regular food.
Other remedies that may help soothe an upset stomach include natural yogurt, probiotics, peeled boiled potatoes, cottage cheese, plain eggs (cooked without oil), and veterinarian-prescribed medications.
When it comes to your dog’s health, it is always best to proceed with caution. A veterinary examination allows your vet to determine the root cause of the diarrhea and recommend the most effective treatment plan.
Note: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and does not substitute professional veterinary advice. For an accurate diagnosis and treatment of your pet’s condition, please consult your veterinarian.
If your dog is suffering from chronic diarrhea, contact our Baltimore vets today to schedule an appointment. We are dedicated to treating your dog’s diarrhea and helping your beloved companion feel better.
